4 Easy-to-Use Cloth Diapers

With cheerful fabrics, major moisture-wicking abilities and ouch-free fasteners, modern cloth diapers are nothing like the nappies your grandma used. They make changes a snap and don't clog landfills. Plus, choosing cloth saves money, too. "It's possible to get set up with cloth diapers and accessories for around $350 to $500 for 2½ years of use," says Paula DeVore, cloth diapering expert and owner of Babyworks, who notes that disposable diapers over the same time frame may cost upward of $1,800.

To get started, you'll need two washable diaper pail liners, a diaper sprayer attached to your toilet to wash poop into the bowl and a waterproof wet bag. Here, the most common types of cloth diapers and our favorite picks for each:

Pocket diapers consist of an absorbent insert made of microfiber, hemp, cotton or bamboo that slips between a waterproof exterior and a wetness-wicking liner. Many pocket diapers offer a one-size-fits-all option. For full-time use, you'll need at least 24.

We like: gDiapers offers a rainbow of colors and designs; try the flushable/compostable/tossable inserts or the washable microfleece, cotton and hemp inserts. ($20 for diaper covers, and $15 for inserts, amazon.com)